Pipe pressure testing method and apparatus

Abstract

A sealing device is provided for use with a fitting. The fitting has circular port and a flow path with a longitudinal axis. A circular port encircles a portion of the flow path opposite the port with the sealing device inserted into the port. The sealing device has a circular top with two opposing surfaces depending therefrom but inclined so the surfaces are closer at the top. A continuous sidewall joins the periphery of the two surfaces. The opposing surfaces are inclined and spaced apart further at the top than at an end opposite the top. A cylindrical hole through the opposing surfaces encircles the flow path during use.

The invention claimed is: 
     
       1. A removable pressure testing device for use in testing the pressure in a pipe line having an interior diameter and having a fitting with a flow path through the fitting along a longitudinal axis of the flow path, the fitting having a port and a recess encircling a portion of the flow path opposite the port and into which the testing device is inserted to block fluid flow through the fitting for testing, the pressure testing device sized to removably fit through the port during use, the pressure testing device comprising:
 a circular top sized to mate with the port, a continuous sidewall extending between two opposing sides of the circular top and depending from the top a distance sufficient to block the flow path when the device is inserted into the fitting through the port; 
 two opposing faces joined to the sidewall and to the top to form an enclosed structure, one face being an upstream face and the other a downstream face, an axial distance between the faces being greater adjacent the top than at a distal end of the faces to form a wedge shape with the faces inclined at an angle of 14 to 40 degrees relative to each other, wherein at least one of the faces forming a fluid tight seal with the recess in the fitting during use is overmolded onto the pressure testing device; 
 a first opening in the upstream face, the first opening being located to be placed within the fluid flow path through the fitting when the testing device blocks flow through the fitting; 
 a second opening in the downstream face, the second opening being located to be placed within the fluid flow path through the fitting when the testing device blocks flow through the fitting; 
 a first fluid passage placing the first and second openings in fluid communication; 
 a first valve extending through a valve passage in the pressure testing device, the first valve having a first closed position that blocks flow through the first fluid passage and having a second open position that allows flow through the first fluid passage. 
 
     
     
       2. The pressure testing device of  claim 1 , wherein the at least one of the overmolded faces comprises a thermoplastic elastomer. 
     
     
       3. The pressure testing device of  claim 1 , wherein the at least one of the overmolded faces comprises an ethylene propylene diene monomer. 
     
     
       4. The pressure testing device of  claim 1 , wherein the first valve further comprises a tubular stem valve. 
     
     
       5. The pressure testing device of  claim 4 , wherein the first valve includes a first valve surface on a distal end of the tubular stem valve cooperating with a mating valve surface on the first opening to form the first and second positions of the tubular stem valve. 
     
     
       6. The pressure testing device of  claim 4 , wherein the pressure testing device further comprises a tube located between the faces and in fluid communication with at least one of the first and second openings in the faces, a portion of the stem valve extending through the tube. 
     
     
       7. The pressure testing device of  claim 6  wherein a portion of the stem valve translates within the tube between the first and second positions. 
     
     
       8. The pressure testing device of  claim 6 , further comprising a second valve manually actuatable independent of the first valve, the second valve being in fluid communication through a second fluid passage in the pressure testing device and the first fluid passage, the second valve having a second valve outlet that is accessible externally of the testing device and having a first closed position blocking flow through the second valve outlet and further having a second open position allowing fluid flow through the first valve and the second valve outlet to the first fluid passage. 
     
     
       9. The pressure testing device of  claim 8 , wherein the second valve comprises a rotary valve located in the first tubular stem valve. 
     
     
       10. A pressure testing assembly for use in testing the pressure in a pipe line having an interior diameter and having walls defining a flow path through the fitting along a longitudinal axis, the pressure testing assembly comprising:
 a fitting comprising:
 a port having interior walls defining an opening that is accessible from outside the fitting, the opening being centered on a central axis intersecting with and orthogonal to the longitudinal axis, the port having threads thereon encircling the central axis; 
 two oppositely inclined, flat recess walls on opposing sides of the centerline, each flat wall defining an opening through which the flow path and longitudinal axis pass, the walls spaced apart a distance sufficient so that a ball about 5 inches smaller than the nominal diameter of the pipeline, can pass through the port and the flow path in the fitting, the flat walls opposite the port being closer together, the fitting walls defining a recess that at least partially encircles the flow path and opens to the circular port; 
 
 a pressure testing device inserted into the recess to pressure test the pipe line, the pressure testing device, comprising:
 a circular top having two opposing surfaces, the top having a diameter larger than the interior diameter of the pipeline and sized to mate with the circular port; 
 a continuous sidewall located between the opposing surfaces, the sidewall extending between opposing sides of the top and depending from the top a distance sufficient to fit into the recess in the fitting and block the flow path when the device is inserted into the fitting; 
 two, opposing faces joined to the sidewall and to the top to form an enclosed structure, each face joined to one of the surfaces on the top, one face being an upstream face and the other a downstream face, wherein at least one of the faces is overmolded onto the device and configured to form a fluid tight seal with one of the recess walls in the fitting; 
 a first opening in the upstream face, the first opening located within the fluid flow path through the fitting; 
 a second opening in the downstream face, the second opening being located within the fluid flow path through the fitting; 
 a fluid passage placing the first and second openings in fluid communication; 
 a stem valve having a first position that blocks flow from the first opening to the second opening and a second position that allows flow through the first and second openings, 
 
 a retaining ring removably fastened to the fitting to hold the pressure testing device within the fitting; and 
 a sealing ring encircling the port to provide a fluid tight seal. 
 
     
     
       11. The pressure testing assembly of  claim 10 , wherein the at least one of the faces is overmolded with a thermoplastic elastomer. 
     
     
       12. The pressure testing assembly of  claim 10 , wherein the at least one of the faces is overmolded with an ethylene propylene diene monomer. 
     
     
       13. The pressure testing assembly of  claim 10 , wherein the opposing fitting walls are inclined at an angle of about 7-20 degrees to a plane containing the central axis and orthogonal to the longitudinal axis, and wherein the faces of the pressure testing device face an adjacent fitting wall and are inclined at about the same angle as the adjacent fitting wall. 
     
     
       14. The pressure testing assembly of  claim 10 , wherein the pressure testing device further comprises a tube located between the faces and in fluid communication with at least one of the first and second openings in the faces, a portion of the stem valve extending through the tube. 
     
     
       15. The pressure testing assembly of  claim 14 , wherein the stem valve and tube have mating threads with the stem valve being rotated to translate between the first and second positions. 
     
     
       16. The pressure testing assembly of  claim 10 , wherein the stem valve comprises a tubular valve stem having a fluid passage therethrough, and further comprising a rotary valve located in the tubular valve stem, the second valve being in fluid communication with the fluid passage through the valve stem and having a first position allowing fluid flow through the tubular valve stem and through the second valve outlet, the second valve having a second position blocking flow through the second valve outlet. 
     
     
       17. A pressure testing assembly for pipelines with a valve assembly, comprising:
 a fitting having walls defining a flow path through the fitting; 
 a port encircling a circular opening in a plane perpendicular to a longitudinal axis of the port and about which the circle is centered, the opening located on one side of the fitting, the opening large enough for a cleanout device, the fitting having walls defining at least a portion of a single recess around the flow path and opening onto the port, the recess being configured to allow the cleanout device to pass through the fitting by having an opening no smaller than 0.5 inches smaller than a nominal size of the pipeline; 
 a test device configured to fit into the recess and form a fluid tight seal with at least one wall of the recess to block flow through the flow path through the fitting, the test device having an opening on each of an upstream and downstream side of the device when inserted into the recess with the upstream and downstream openings being in fluid communication and located on opposing faces of the test device which faces are inclined at an angle of about 7-20 degrees to a plane containing the longitudinal axis and perpendicular to the flow axis and which faces are overmolded onto the test device; 
 a valve assembly located in the test device and having a first valve with an end of the valve assembly being externally accessible to operate the first valve, the first valve being in fluid communication with the upstream and downstream openings to open and close fluid flow through the upstream and downstream openings, the first valve having a fluid flow path therethrough in fluid communication with a second valve. 
 
     
     
       18. The pressure testing assembly of  claim 17 , wherein the port has a longitudinal port axis and the sidewall is curved about that longitudinal port axis. 
     
     
       19. The pressure testing assembly of  claim 17 , wherein the overmolded faces comprise a thermoplastic elastomer. 
     
     
       20. The pressure testing assembly of  claim 17 , wherein the overmolded faces comprise an ethylene propylene diene monomer. 
     
     
       21. The pressure testing assembly device of  claim 17 , further comprising a threaded retaining ring configured to threadingly engage mating threads on the port to retain the test device in the port.